Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-12-30

The grandmother drew him To her, and,
looking down into the childish face, said .
"Nes the Christ child comes in the early
morning but 1t is not Of that vc must
think most 1t is of the beautiful New
Year Then We shall be- in the new land .
and such happy New Year it is going to
be- On that first day, we shall see the
dear father aud mother. Now, Karl must
listen to all Grannie says. We are going
to strange country great many miles
away You must try and remember the
name Empire, Kansas. Can yod say it "
The child repeated it slowly three times.
THAT will do We are going to a big
city and if you should lose Grannie for
even short time, you must know where we
are going
LET us talk of the New Year, and Of
Gretchen and Wilhelm Are we all very
happy and does it bring much joy to all
| little boys A New Year What is it like
Shall really see it g
81 hope so, dear child for it is going TO
be the happiest day we have seen for many
long year Now, it is growing late. We
must go to sleep | believe Grannie is
tired. Sleep well, Karl, and waken early
to see the Christ-ch Good night, dear
one
The next morning, Karl watched and
| waited in vain for his grandmother to wax
en- Finally, he said very softly, "Grannic
| its Christmas. Wake up !' Touching her
| face very gently, he started back crying
"Grannie Grannie Wake up Wake
| up But there was no answer. The worn
and weary body was at rest forever. AT
ter the long months Of waiting, She had
reached the New Land first In the
darkness Of the night the Christ child had
come.
The captain told the sad story to a few
ladies who took charge of the lonely little
/ boy when he was brought to the cabin OF
that suddest of all sad rites burial at
sea--he knew nothing The ladies were
very kind, and tried To interest him in
| what was passing about but he had lived
| alone with his grandmother so long that he
| knew not how to play with other children.
| After watching them for some time, he
would suddenly turn, and say in IA timid,
frightened way, Please take me to Gran
ME
No one seemed able to make him under
stand about that long, long journey So,
finally, they did not answer him. but tried
to turn his attention to other things
The day before the ship reached New
! York there was "a meeting of the ladies to
see what could be done with Karl. He
seemed TO nave forgotten every unlhE "u,
ms name All nus grandmother ha' t"Ia
i iIih that last night was no longer reinehi
bered.' r.,
There was no 'sl'ress among 'he re"
things tied up in IA han,htTcnl' "hlS
letter dated Empire. Kansas. and sirne,.
Hans. When asked his name. the am.
,wer always came Karl.
But Karl what: Is it Karl Weber =
"No. Karl.
Finding he yave no other answer. they
asked hlm no more questions. A card was
written by one Of the gentlemen. and pin
ned to karl's out-.'Io bee delivered to Han,
. Empire. Kansas Then one of the
ladies' wrote a letter teliugthe sad incident
of the voyage. and. puttin. the two letters
together. placed them ia Kar's pocket. A
gentleman going to Chica.l SAID he would
take charge of him a, far as that CITY. and
a telegram was sent to the station agent in
Empire.
The New Year daviel bright and clear.
/ Sleigh-hells chimed merrilv i'm the cri,r
morning air. for the earth was wrapped i'm
"A thick covering of snow. At the railway
station in Empire. a man completely envei
oped in a great coat walked rapidly to and
fro on the platform. As the clock struck
ten. the express train came rushing into
the ward The conductor stepped off. hold
ing little bov bv the hand. The man
looked earnestly at the child but. before
he could speak the little one ran forward